The Holy Spirit – 04.19.16

“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.” – 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

Consider our passage above. The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthian believers and stresses three particular things that God does for His children; He establishes us, He anoints us, and He seals us. Let’s us consider this third blessing from God in the life of the believer in greater depth. What does it mean to be sealed by God?

The word “sealed” is a very interesting word. Whenever I hear it, I think about my maternal grandmother who lived in Albertville, Alabama. Albertville is a town positioned on the top of Sand Mountain, the southernmost ridge of the Appalachian mountain range. One particular memory from the pages of my childhood was how each year she grew a massive garden in the backyard. And each year, like clockwork, she canned her fruits and vegetables using those old “Kerr Jars.” It seemed as if she had stock in that particular jar company. You name it; from tasty jellies and jams, to pickle relish, her kitchen cupboards were full each and every winter. She passed away when I was in my early twenties. In the years since her passing, it seems like many things from her generation have passed away as well. Canning would be a prime example. It is certainly a lost art. I know very few young people that are “canners” (if that is even a word). Unfortunately, our microwave generation and our fast food society is guilty of eating away at the old-fashioned discipline of canning.

But what is the purpose of canning? It is to preserve the contents within. And in the canning process, it is the act of “sealing” that preserves the contents within the jar. Without the seal, the contents cannot be preserved. This is a great illustration of what God the Holy Spirit does in the life of the believer. As He places His final seal upon us, He preserves us in the faith. Without His spiritual seal, a person cannot be preserved. This seal secures our eternal safety in Christ.

Also within the process of canning, heat is used to sterilize the containers before the contents are placed within. And just like heat is used to sterilize the glass jars, the fires of the Holy Spirit begin the cleansing process within our lives from the inside out, a refining process that begins at the moment of conversion.

But there is a point where this comparative illustration unravels; unlike canning, the Holy Spirit’s seal upon the believer is a seal that cannot be cracked or broken. Once we are saved, we are gloriously saved forever, and are sealed to the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). Paul also stressed this to the church at Ephesus when he wrote, “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation; having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise…” (Ephesians 1:13). Furthermore, the Holy Spirit is given to the believer as a guarantee (2 Corinthians 5:5). Similar to how some companies might offer a seal of guarantee upon their product, the Holy Spirit is our seal of guarantee that we are eternally secure. Oh what a wonderful thing to find rest in the truth that God’s children cannot lose our salvation.

Have you been sealed and eternally preserved by the Holy Spirit of God? If not, sincerely ask Christ to come into your heart, submit to His Lordship, and rest in the promise that you can sealed forever. I pray these things come to mind next time you encounter something that has been “canned.”

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36 thoughts on “The Holy Spirit – 04.19.16”

I like to think about having the seal of approval from God on my life. I am so glad that I am saved and that my seal with God can not be broken.It is neat to think about being canned with the Holy Spirit.

We as Christians are very much like jars. We contain the Holy Spirit and preserve God’s holiness. But also like jam in a jar, we should spread God’s blessing with others in the world. The Lord is great and has made many illustrations in this world that we may compare ourselves to. We should acknowledge these comparisons and live just lives for Him.

This is a very good statement! It also shows how the Lord can use anything to spread His word like the Jars. The lord wants us to spread his word like the spread you make from canning. The lord uses all of his creation to spread his word by the holy spirit.

God seals us into His grace when we are saved. He loves us to much to just open us up and abandon us to live life at its worst. He loves is and wants what is best for us and if that is to have a few thorns, then it is better than being out all by ourselves without help.

God’s seal is an awesome thing. If we are sealed once then we are sealed forever and nothing can ever change that. We are the fruits of God’s labor and we will only get better the longer we have been sealed.

It is very assuring to be sealed by God! Once we trust in him, nothing can take us away. I like the example with canning jars. Without the seal, the food can’t be preserved, and when we don’t have God’s seal, we can’t be preserved and assured eternal life. Thanks for the message Mr. Martin! 🙂

God’s seal on us is such a beautiful thing! It’s amazing to know once we have the Holy Spirit’s seal upon us that we cannot be broken at all. It’s also such a beautiful thing to know that when we are saved that we are sealed forever. God’s love for us is such a wonderful thing!

I think it is wonderful that our heavenly Father has sealed us in Him and that the seal He places on us can never be broken or even cracked! I love the thought that we are forever in Christ! There is not a second in our life that goes by that we aren’t His after we are saved, and that we are sealed until the day of redemption! I also like the thought that we are sealed and protected by God and that the Holy Spirit cleanses us, from the inside out! Also this preserving of Christians keeps us alive and new each and everyday so we may go out and spread God’s word more and more and work through God to preserve and so God can show them that they can be sealed and preserved too!

This is an awesome and encouraging message!!! It’s so awesome to know that our heavenly Father has put Hus seal on us and we are His. Nothing can ever separate us from His own unconditional love. Therefore we must be his vessels and spread His Word to unbelievers. God’s precious love is an awesome and beautiful thing and we are so blessed to have his seal and be part of his family.

It is such an awesome thing that God’s seal with me can never be broken and that I am His. With God’s seal our faith can be preserved and we can have eternal life. We, in turn though, have to be His vessel and spread His love like jam in a jar that He shared with us. Thanks for the insight Mr. Martin!

It is satisfying to know the Holy Spirit is like a seal for us. It is true that once you accept Jesus you are “sealed” in. God can pour into us and we can continue to grow in our walks with God, but knowing we will always have the Holy Spirit is comforting.

I LOVE this correlation!!! God seals us in is such a great way to understand how we cannot lose God. Spreading the good news like jam should be the main goal of the Christian life. I love how God pours into me especially through this bible class.

I have never thought of us as jars. Now that I have it makes sense we as Christians like to keep God to ourselfs. We we were called to spread the gospel and tell about God and Jesus. This is a new way of thinking about our mission to share the gospel

This is an interesting analogy but it applies so well. We really do contain the good news of Christ and we should open up and share the gospel with others. It’s amazing how God can use broken people to do his work.